Dr Alkystis Phinikaridou

Alkystis has expertise in the development and validation of molecular imaging probes that selectively bind to and report on tissue inflammatory activity and alterations in extracellular matrix proteins.

In the context of heart failure, her team has developed the first imaging probe that targets collagen type 3, enabling detection of this previously undetectable form in the heart. They have also developed MRI technologies and used available probes that bind to collagen 1 and elastin to monitor the efficacy of recently discovered gene-based and RNA-based therapeutics in reducing cardiac fibrosis.

Alkystis's vision is to harness the power of functional and molecular imaging and contribute towards a non-invasive image-guided theranostic strategy that has the potential to accelerate the development of effective anti-fibrotic and cardiac regeneration therapies as part of REACT.